Situation in the Union: Commission calls on Member States to improve the safety of journalists throughout THE EU
15 September 2021 talking about the situation in the Union President Urzula fon der Leiena said:
Information is a public good. We must protect those who enjoy transparency, journalists and journalists. We have therefore come up with a recommendation today on how to better protect journalists.
President of the Commission Urzula fon der Leiena speaking about the situation in the Union stated that the Commission today comes up with a first recommendation on strengthening the security of journalists and other media professionals.
In recent years, journalists have been faced with an increasing number of attacks, which have ended in tragic cases with murder. The covid-19 crisis has further hampered the work of journalists, as journalists, particularly external staff, have lower income and limited access to event sites.
In order to change this trend, the Commission sets out the measures to be taken by Member States to improve the safety of journalists both offline and online. Among other things, the Recommendation calls for the establishment of independent national support services, including help phones, legal advice, psychological support and shelters for journalists and media professionals who are facing threats. The Recommendation also calls for the strengthening of the protection of journalists in demonstrations, enhancing online safety and providing special support for women in journalists.
Vice-President of the Commission on values and transparency in Vera Jourova noted:
No journalist can die or suffer because of his job. We must support and protect journalists because their work is an important part of democracy. The pandemic has shown more than ever how many journalists play a major role in public awareness and national authorities need urgent action to protect them. Today we call on the Member States to act decisively to make THE EU a safer place for journalists.
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Bretton added:
Media freedom and pluralism are the core of EU values and we must actively defend these values. The media sector continues to adapt and develop, but there is also a threat faced by media professionals working in their profession. The threat online is the new reality. Today we come up with a recommendation that will focus our efforts where they are most needed: to ensure the security of journalists both online and offline.
Recommendation on the safety of journalists
The Recommendation sets out recommendations for protests and demonstrations; online safety and the provision of opportunities in the digital environment; and the situation of journalists and journalists belonging to minority groups.
1. General recommendations
In view of the growing number of attacks on journalists (over 900 attacks in the European Union in 2020), the Recommendation calls on Member States to closely investigate and prosecute all criminal offences through full use of existing national and European legislation. Member States are encouraged to involve European institutions, such as Europol, where appropriate; and Eurojust. Member States should promote better cooperation between law enforcement and media bodies in order to identify and eliminate the threats faced by journalists more effectively and to ensure personal protection for journalists whose security is at risk. It is also important that media have non-discriminatory access to information, including press conferences and documents held by public authorities. In addition, the recommendations stress the importance of training and the improvement of access to social protection for all media professionals.
2. Protests and demonstrations
Almost every third incident occurs during demonstrations: in 2020, journalists often attacked demonstrations. Member States should provide regular training to law enforcement authorities to ensure that journalists and other media professionals can work safely and without restrictions in such events. In order to decide on the most appropriate measures, such as the visual recognition of media professionals, it is important to cooperate with the representatives of journalists. One of the proposed measures is to appoint liaison officers who would inform journalists of potential risks before planned protests or demonstrations.
3. Online safety and the provision of full-time opportunities in the digital environment
A major concern for journalists is security in the digital environment and online because of hostility, threats of physical violence, and cyber security risks and illegal observation. Member States are encouraged to promote cooperation between online platforms and organisations with expertise on how to prevent threats against journalists, such as promoting their potential involvement as a trusted signalman. The relevant national cybersecurity bodies should help journalists who want to find out whether their devices or Internet accounts are endangered, receive reliable cybersecurity criminal investigators. Member States should also promote regular dialogue between such cybersecurity bodies, media and industry, in particular with a view to promoting journalists' awareness of cyber security and their digital skills.
4. Journalists and journalists belonging to minority groups or ethnic minorities
Journalists and journalists belonging to minority groups, as well as journalists who report equality issues, are particularly vulnerable to threats and attacks. Journalists face threats more often than men working in this profession – 73 % claims that they have faced online violence in their work. The Recommendation encourages Member States to support initiatives aimed at providing full opportunities for journalists and professionals belonging to minority groups, as well as for journalists who report equality issues. The Recommendation calls on Member States to improve transparency and effective reporting on attacks and discrimination against these journalists and to provide them with information on how to address assistance and support. In addition, the Recommendation highlights the need to promote equality and inclusion in news agencies and media industry as a whole and to promote continuous improvement of competences and skills for all persons associated with the protection of journalists and other media professionals.
Follow-up
The Commission will organise discussions on the implementation of this Recommendation with Member States and stakeholders in relevant forums, in particular the European news media forum. The Commission will also assess progress and the annual report on the rule of law will continue to analyse the security of journalists in all Member States. 18 months after the adoption of the recommendation, Member States should notify the Commission of the measures taken to implement it.
In order to support Member States in implementing this Recommendation, EU funding is devoted not only to a number of programmes and projects but also to the training of judges, police forces and journalists. EU is also co-financed by the European rapid response mechanismled by the European Centre for Freedom of the Press and Media, located in Leipzig, Germany. The Mechanism offers support for legal protection and opinions as well as emergency support such as travel, psychological support and family costs, accommodation in Germany and Italy, and the provision and support of training throughout Europe. Today, the Commission also launches new call for proposals on media freedom and research journalism, which will earn nearly eur 4 million FOR EU funding. This initiative will support two separate actions: a pan-European mechanism for responding to press and media freedom and emergency support funds for research journalists and media organisations with a view to achieving media freedom IN THE EU.
General information
In recent years, the growing number of physical, legal and online threats and attacks against journalists and other media professionals, as reflected in the Commission's 2020 and 2021 reports on the rule of law, constitute a worrying trend. Physical attacks have been reported particularly in the context of public protests and journalists in several Member States have encountered aggression of protesters and, in some cases, aggressive police forces. Online threats increase throughout THE EU, women journalists and minority journalists are at risk. This situation is particularly worrying when the initiators of such attacks are politicians or influential officials.
Recommendation for the first time European Democracy Action Planis part of the broader EU efforts to support media freedom and pluralism. It is based on the Council of Europe Recommendation on the protection of journalism and journalists and other media actors and takes into account information collected in the first European news media forum. In preparation of this recommendation, a structured dialogue was held in March 2021 with Member States, journalists, journalists' associations and international organisations.
The European Democracy Action Plan announced a number of actions to support media freedom and pluralism during the Commission's mandate. The Commission will continue its efforts to provide sustainable funding for projects focusing on legal and practical assistance to journalists IN and outside THE EU. The total EU funding for current projects in support of journalists' security, media freedom and pluralism is €21.5 million. The Commission is also working on initiatives involving measures to protect journalists and rights defenders against abuse (strategic proceedings against public participation (WET)).
In addition, in order to protect the independence of the media, the Commission will come up with a European Media Freedom Act in 2022.